NW Illinois News

Former state senator-turned-Republican gubernatorial candidate Paul Schimpf has announced  McHenry County Board member Carolyn Schofield as his pick for lieutenant governor in his race for governor. 

Schimpf made the announcement Tuesday at the Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake.

“When I set about looking for a lieutenant governor running mate, I wasn’t looking for somebody that was going to check a demographic or geographic block," Schimpf said during a press conference. "I was looking for somebody to be an equal partner, somebody who understood the issues facing Illinois, somebody who had the background and experience and ability to help develop the solutions that our state desperately needs.”

Schimpf said he was "lucky" to have Schofield on the ticket. She told those in attendance she was excited to be a part of the campaign.

“Illinois has been subject to poor decisions and political dysfunction and Paul and I are pledging to work with varied viewpoints to help solve the state’s most pressing needs,” Schofield said during the announcement. 

Schofield said their campaign would be focused on three major issues, parents' rights, creating safe communities, and restoring trust in government.

"Carolyn and I are going to give the state of Illinois a new start," Schimpf said. "During the next year we are going to earn your trust to be your next governor and lieutenant governor."

Schimpf's campaign will include stops in Fairview Heights, Waterloo, and Marion in the next week.

Back in September, Schimpf took a jab at incumbent Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) saying he'd lost the moral authority to lead the state during the pandemic, according to Prairie State Wire.

Schimpf is a Marine veteran who was stationed in Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. According to his campaign website, he served as a military attorney after graduating from Southern Illinois University School of Law.